The Double-Chapter 60 - 58 Accompanying

60: Chapter 58 Accompanying

60 -58 Accompanying

If Jiang Li didn’t rank last in the examination, Meng Hongjin would have to kneel down and apologize to her.

If Jiang Li performed better than Meng Hongjin in the examination, Meng Hongjin would have to kneel at the entrance of the Imperial College and apologize to her.

If Jiang Li not only outperformed Meng Hongjin but also did better than all the other female students in Mingyi Hall, Meng Hongjin would have to present a humble apology with a thorn bush, kneeling at the entrance of the Imperial College to Jiang Li.

Three conditions, each more astonishing than the last, three wagers, each more spine-chilling than the last! freewebnoveℓ.com

Mingyi Hall fell into a terrible silence, not only had Meng Hongjin been stunned, but also Jiang Youyao’s party, and even Liu Xu, nobody spoke, nor could they find the words to speak.

After a while, Meng Hongjin snapped back to reality, saying furiously, “Jiang Li, you’ve got some nerve!”

“I’ve always been quite bold,” Jiang Li said with a light smile, “I just don’t know about Miss Meng’s courage.

It seemed great just now, but now…

can you handle this wager?”

Meng Hongjin clenched her teeth in silence; Jiang Li spoke too calmly, as if this terrifying wager was nothing more than a game for a piece of silver.

Little did she know, their bet was so shocking and unconventional that the loser would bring disgrace upon not only themselves but their entire family in the whole of Yanjing City.

Furthermore, Jiang Li even mentioned the Imperial College…

The students of the Imperial College were the young elites of the entire Yanjing City, among whom were children of officials and nobles.

And for daughters like them, their future husbands might well be among these men.

Losing face in front of the Imperial College was tantamount to losing face in front of their potential future husbands; after such a scandal, which one of these young men would marry a girl turned into the butt of jokes?

Jiang Li’s intentions were truly malicious.

Meng Hongjin felt a chill in her heart.

“Let’s bet then!” A petite girl standing behind Meng Hongjin spoke disdainfully: “Hurry and agree to her terms, Miss Jiang the Second is very confident, but perhaps too confident for her own good.”

Liu Xu also came back to her senses, looking at Jiang Li with deep concern.

Meng Hongjin then remembered that Jiang Li had proposed this wager because she never believed she would lose from the beginning.

After all, a girl who had spent eight years in a temple, even if she could learn to read from the scriptures there, that learning was far different from the Six Arts.

Literature, mathematics, chariot driving, archery, music, rituals—each required long-term practice.

Jiang Li, not to mention other arts, was probably new to the Six Arts; making sense of them at a beginner level in such a short amount of time would be difficult, and the other girls from Mingyi Hall had been studying there for years.

If indeed Jiang Li were to beat them, that would be truly unbelievable.

Jiang Li was fated to rank last, and her wagers were destined to become deep pits she had dug for herself.

Realizing this, Meng Hongjin raised a smile and said, “Since Miss Jiang the Second is interested and has the guts, of course, I will accompany you to the end.

Actions must match words, and all the sisters of Mingyi Hall here today are witnesses.

Once the examination results are out, Miss Jiang the Second cannot, by virtue of being the Chief Minister’s daughter, go back on her words.”

“I won’t,” Jiang Li smiled: “I hope you won’t either.”

Her demeanor was calm and fearless, which greatly irked Meng Hongjin; she sniffed coldly and strode away in anger.

The crowd dispersed in twos and threes, looks of scorn and pity directed at Jiang Li as if they had already foreseen her humiliation.

Jiang Youyao came over and said to her, “Second Sister, you needn’t compare yourself with Miss Meng.

Hongjin has always ranked in the top three during the Mingyi Hall examinations.

Going head-to-head with her is unwise.”

Jiang Li looked at her and said, “According to Third Sister’s reasoning, should I go find Meng Hongjin and ask her to call off this bet right now?”

Jiang Youyao stiffened momentarily, then spoke hastily, “But right now, everyone in Mingyi Hall has witnessed; if Second Sister cancels the bet, others will only think you’re a sore loser, tarnishing the entire Jiang Family’s reputation.”

Jiang Li said, “In that case, the bet can’t be canceled.

Little Sister need not worry about me.

I’m someone who always has extraordinary luck.

What if this time I’m also fortunate and happen to win the bet?”

Jiang Youyao smiled, “That would be most excellent.” However, her tone was very much disbelieving.

After Jiang Youyao left, Liu Xu stepped forward, looking contemptuously at Jiang Youyao’s retreating figure, “Your third sister is clearly a person who kicks someone when they’re down, waiting to see you become a laughingstock.”

“She’s somewhat foolish.” Jiang Li smiled.

Jiang Youyao desired to see her reputation in ruins and face disgraced.

Yet she did not consider that honor or shame would be shared by all, and if she indeed lost and fulfilled the wager to kneel to Meng Hongjin, it wouldn’t just be her losing face— the entire Jiang Residence would.

As a daughter of the Jiang Residence, how could Jiang Youyao extricate herself?

Jiang Youyao didn’t understand this, or perhaps even if she did, she’d rather suffer herself to see Jiang Li humiliated, just like how Yunshuang had been toward Xiangqiao in the past.

“It’s all my fault.” Liu Xu looked guiltily at Jiang Li, “I was goaded by them earlier.

If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have had to do this.”

“It’s not for you.” Jiang Li comforted her, “They were looking to nitpick, and even if it hadn’t been this matter, they would have found some other excuse to cause trouble.

There’s no point in guarding against thieves every day.

Better to settle this once and for all.”

“But what should you do now?” Liu Xu asked, “I think, since you dared to accept the bet, you must have some confidence.

But the Six Arts of Mingyi Hall are very difficult.

Not to hide it from you, I fall behind in one or two subjects at each annual review, and you’ve only just returned to Yanjing.”

“Actually, I never forget anything after I’ve read it once.” Jiang Li winked at her.

Liu Xu was startled, almost exclaiming in surprise, “Really?”

“Of course not.” Jiang Li laughed and patted her shoulder, “But I’m not as bad as they think.

Don’t worry about me.

Concentrate on reviewing your lessons.

Just wait for the day after the examination when Meng Hongjin kneels at the entrance of the Imperial College to apologize.”

Liu Xu wanted to say more, but Jiang Li had already changed the subject.

Although full of concern, seeing Jiang Li’s smiling face gave Liu Xu an inexplicable sense of reassurance.

She believed Jiang Li’s words without a doubt.

Maybe she really had some plan.

Jiang Li smiled to herself.

It was just an academic review, and Meng Hongjin’s provocation was indeed becoming tiresome.

However, another goal also lured her.

If she emerged top of the class, she could enter the palace for the royal ceremonial audience.

At the imperial banquet, Assistant Head Writer Shen Yurong, a rising star at the imperial court, should be present, along with Princess Yongning.

She truly wanted to meet these two people; even if she could do nothing, even if she wasn’t yet able to exact vengeance, just sitting off to the side and looking at their faces would suffice.

In this way, she could continuously remind herself of the Xue Family’s wrongful case and the blood feud of her kin.

She couldn’t forget, she dared not forget.